Department for Transport

Department for Transport: Procurement

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many contractors currently employed by his Department are paid £1,000 or more per day.

Ms Nusrat Ghani: The following areas have contractors that are currently paid £1,000 or more per day. DfTc7DVSANilDVLANilMCANilVCANil

Govia Thameslink Railway: Timetables

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure lessons are learned from the roll-out of the new Govia Thameslink Railway before South Western Railway's new timetable is implemented.

Joseph Johnson: The new timetable across Govia Thameslink Railway commenced on Sunday 20 May 2018 and there have been wholly unsatisfactory levels of disruption on those rail services since then. A combination of delayed Network Rail infrastructure works and reduced time to plan a modified timetable meant that the new timetable was finalised much too late to permit adequate logistical planning for the timetable changes. I am determined both that the problems are dealt with as quickly as possible, and that this is not repeated in the future. I am also clear that the way timetabling is done has to change. It is obvious that Network Rail’s current timetabling system simply cannot cope with the volume of work that it has to complete, and so we have asked both the current leadership and the incoming Chief Executive, Andrew Haines, to ensure that this issue is addressed as a priority. Until this has been done, I will insist on a gradual approach to timetable change wherever possible and not the significant changes that we have seen this month. This is ahead of South Western Railway’s new December 2018 timetable.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Travel

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the procurement of an aircraft for use when discharging the duties of his office; and if he will provide details of his Department's travel policy.

Sir Alan Duncan: Holding answer received on 04 June 2018



There are currently no plans to procure a new aircraft.The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's travel policy is that all staff should travel by the most appropriate means and class of travel according to the demands of their job and to ensure maximum efficiency, remembering that it is public money being spent. Staff must also consider if the journey is necessary and if their aims can be achieved by other means such as video conference, teleconference, or WebEx facilities.

Department of Health and Social Care

Department of Health and Social Care: Procurement

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many contractors currently employed by his Department are paid £1,000 or more per day.

Caroline Dinenage: Since December 2013 the Department has used a Call off Contract from the Crown Commercial Services Contingent Labour One framework RM960 for the hire of temporary workers. The following information has been provided by the suppliers on the call off contract Capita and Brook Street in relation to temporary workers used by the Department. Currently there are no temporary workers being paid daily £1,000 or more by the Department. The Department also uses various suppliers from the Crown Commercial Service Non-Medical Non-Clinical framework RM971 for the recruitment and hire of temporary workers. There is no central data captured to show daily payments made to these workers.

Palliative Care

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, by what means his Department collects information on the preferences for care for people at the end of life since the discontinuation of the National Survey of Bereaved People (VOICES) after the publication of 2015 data.

Caroline Dinenage: Since 2012 the National Survey of Bereaved People (VOICES) survey has provided valuable insight into the quality of care delivered to people in the last three months of their lives, highlighting variations in the quality of care delivered in different areas of the country and to different groups of patients. Following publication of the last set of survey results in June 2016, NHS England held a consultation on the future of the VOICES survey to seek views on the approach and relevance of the survey to ensure that it remained fit for purpose. Whilst the response showed that the VOICES survey remained a valuable tool, key amongst its findings were that the majority of respondents indicated that the VOICES survey would be more helpful if the sample size were made large enough to report at a local commissioner level.  Following this, work was undertaken to revise the survey and consider approaches to a larger sample size and then put in place arrangements to re-commission the VOICES survey. NHS England has been involved in discussions with the Office for National Statistics, which collects the death registration data used to identify survey recipients, about arrangements for access to the data for the new survey. Changes to the safeguarding arrangements on data-sharing, designed to ensure any concerns about care raised via the survey can be appropriately investigated, have resulted in delays to commencing the new VOICES survey. Work is ongoing to resolve this matter, and a timetable for the publication of the next survey cannot be provided at this time. Finally, there are other means through which personalisation and choice at the end of life are assessed and monitored; for example, through the Care Quality Commission’s inspection regime, which now rates end of life care as a core service, and via the National Audit for Care at the End of Life, commissioned on behalf of NHS England by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership.

Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency

Derek Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has formal associate membership with the European Medicines Agency after the UK leaves the EU.

Jackie Doyle-Price: From 30 March 2019, the United Kingdom will no longer be a member of the European Union. However, under the terms of the implementation period agreement regulatory standards and market access for all medicines will continue on current terms. Common rules will remain in place and the UK may continue to participate in EU agencies and bodies where the presence of the UK is necessary and is in the interests of the EU, or where the discussion concerns acts addressed to the UK and its citizens. The exact nature of this participation will be a matter for further discussion. Regarding the future relationship, the Prime Minister's Mansion House speech outlined that we will explore the terms on which the UK could remain part of the European Medicines Agency. While it would not be appropriate to pre-judge the outcome of the negotiations, we will discuss with the EU and Member States how best to continue cooperation in medicines regulation. Our overall aim is to ensure that patients in the UK and across the EU continue to be able to access the best and most innovative medicines and be assured that their safety is protected through the strongest regulatory framework and continued sharing of data.

Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people have received a diagnosis of persistent postural-perceptual dizziness in each of the last five years.

Steve Brine: This information is not available.

Sunscreens: Health Hazards

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department provides guidance for patients on the use of sun cream containing chemicals that may affect breast tissue.

Steve Brine: Cosmetic products, which include sunscreens, are regulated and must be safe for human health when used under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use. Given the known risks from sunburn and the potential for skin cancer, it is important to take appropriate sun safety precautions including use of sun cream. Advice to the general population on sun protection may be found on NHS Choices at the following link: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/sunscreen-and-sun-safety/ Public Health England advises that the risks from ultraviolet exposure as a result of not using sun cream will be greater than any potential risk from exposure to chemicals in these products and continued use of these products is recommended.

Food: Sugar

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that food manufacturers reduce sugar content in their products.

Steve Brine: As part of our Childhood Obesity Plan we have seen some good progress on sugar reduction. Public Health England’s (PHE) sugar reduction programme challenges industry to reduce sugar by 20% by 2020 in foods that our children consume the most. PHE’s recent report, ‘Sugar reduction and wider reformulation programme: Report on progress towards the first 5% reduction and next steps’, shows some good progress. For example, yoghurts have exceeded the first year target and achieved a 6% reduction in sugar. The soft drinks industry levy has seen half of the products that were initially in scope reformulated – that’s equivalent of removing 45 million kilograms of sugar every year. We are confident industry will continue to reformulate their products and further progress will be made.

Doctors: Convictions

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer to 23 May 2018 to Question 144877 on Doctors: Convictions, if he will work with the General Medical Council to collate that information; and if he will place a copy of that information in the Library.

Stephen Barclay: The Department does not hold this information and does not intend to collate and publish information on convictions for doctors working in the National Health Service.

Breast Cancer: Screening

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference his reply to the letter of 17 May 2018 from the hon. Member for Halton and pursuant to the Answer of 21 May 2018 to Question 144172 on Breast Cancer: Screening, on what dates he or the Minister with responsibility for screening asked officials of his Department about the (a) accuracy of the screening programme and (b) robustness of the checks and assurances in place prior to being informed of the issues relating to the breast cancer screening programme in January 2018.

Steve Brine: There is no record held which indicates the last occasion prior to January 2018 when a Minister sought additional specific assurance from officials on the accuracy and robustness of delivery of the breast screening programme. However, we can confirm that there are processes in place where assurance is given to Ministers on a regular basis on the work of NHS England and Public Health England in delivering effective screening programmes. All available information will be shared with the independent review who will investigate why quality assurance processes did not pick up the problem earlier, whether any warnings should have been heeded earlier and whether the issue was escalated to Ministers at the appropriate time. The review is due to report in November 2018.

Spinal Injuries: Halton

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average waiting time for treatment is for spinal patients living in the Borough of Halton.

Stephen Barclay: Data is not available in the format requested. NHS England publishes monthly performance data for consultant-led referral to treatment waiting times, including information for trauma and orthopaedics which includes spinal procedures. This is published at national, regional, commissioner and provider levels rather than by individuals boroughs and can be accessed at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/rtt-waiting-times/

Department of Health and Social Care: Chief Scientific Adviser

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many meetings he had his Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser between 1 January and 31 March 2018.

Caroline Dinenage: For the period 1 January to 31 March 2018 my Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health met with the Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) twice, and the CSA met with other Ministers on nine occasions. Throughout this period the Department of Health and Social Care’s CSA also acted as the Interim Government CSA and met with Ministers from, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and other Government Departments.

Health: Finance

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 26 April 2018 to question 136542 on health: finance, how much funding from the public purse allocated to activities funded under the section 7A of the public health functions agreement was spent; and what other expenditure reported by NHS England on section 7A services in addition to the ring-fenced sum was spent in each of the last five years.

Steve Brine: NHS England publishes its annual accountability statements online each year which set out their additional reported expenditure outside the Section 7A ring-fenced funding. Ring-fenced funding and expenditure pursuant to the agreement for the last five years are shown in the following table. National Health Service public health functions agreement funding and expenditure Financial year2013/142014/152015/1612016/172017/18Ring-fenced funding (£ million)1,8431,9291,3761,0691,152Additional reported NHS England expenditure outside the ring-fence (£ million)-2698588(Not yet available)Expenditure outturn (£ million)21,8411,9981,4611,157(Not yet available) These figures do not include central procurement of adult and childhood vaccines which are administered within programmes under the NHS public health functions agreement as disaggregated figures are not available.  Notes: 1Figures from 2015/6 are not comparable with previous years as a result of: - the transfer of responsibility for commissioning 0-5 year old children’s services to local government from 1 October 2015; and- inclusion in 2013/14 and 2014/15 £169 million of public health-related Quality Outcomes Framework payments, which are accounted for separately from 2015/16. 2Includes other expenditure reported by NHS England on section 7A services in addition to the ring-fenced sum.

Cervical Cancer: Screening

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what work his Department is undertaking with local authorities to increase access to cervical screening at sexual health clinics.

Steve Brine: We are aware that there has been a decline in cervical screening undertaken in sexual and reproductive health clinics and we are looking at options for increasing coverage. Public Health England is convening an expert group of stakeholders including NHS England, local authority commissioners and providers to explore how any barriers can be addressed.

Coeliac Disease

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much funding was allocated from the public purse to coeliac research in 2016-17.

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much funding the Government plans to allocate to coeliac research in the 2018-19 financial year.

Caroline Dinenage: The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Network provides the infrastructure that allows high-quality clinical research funded by charities, research funders and life-sciences industry to be delivered throughout the National Health Service. In 2016-17 Local Clinical Research Network expenditure related to coeliac disease was £315,503. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) supports research in response to high quality proposals from the research community but made no new awards directly relevant to coeliac disease in 2016/17. It is not possible to provide a figure for planned funding. The NIHR and UKRI welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including coeliac disease; it is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics or conditions. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.

Hospital Beds

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to Spring Budget 2017, what assessment his Department has made of the effect that the additional funding has had on (a) NHS-attributable and (b) social care-attributable Delayed Transfers of Care (DTOCs) in 2017-18; and if he will list the local authorities for which the number of DTOC days have (i) increased and (ii) decreased in 2017-18 compared with the previous year.

Caroline Dinenage: NHS England collects and publishes monthly data on delayed transfers of care (DTOCs) and the reasons for delay. Data are shown at provider organisation level, from National Health Service trusts, NHS foundation trusts and primary care trusts. Data are also shown by local authority that is responsible for each patient delayed. This data is available from 2010-11 and can be accessed via the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/delayed-transfers-of-care/ At the start of 2017-18 (April 2017), 55% of all delays were attributable to the NHS, 38% were attributable to social care, and the remaining 7% were attributable to both NHS and social care. In March 2018, 62% of all delays in were attributable to the NHS, 31% were attributable to social care, and the remaining 7% were attributable to both NHS and social care. There are 109 local authorities where the number of DTOC days increased and 42 where they have decreased in 2017/18 compared to 2016/17. A list of these local authorities is attached.



PQ147841 attached document
(Word Document, 23.47 KB)

Better Care Fund

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 29 January 2018 to Question 124751, (a) how many and (b) which local areas do not have approved Better Care Fund plans in place.

Caroline Dinenage: All local areas have approved Better Care Fund plans in place for 2017/18 and 2018/19.

Better Care Fund

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 29 January 2018 to Question 124751, how much funding for social care was delivered through the Better Care Fund by source of funding in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2016-17 and (c) 2017-18.

Caroline Dinenage: The Better Care Fund (BCF) brings together health and social care funding. As set out in the Integration and BCF Policy Frameworks for each of 2015-161, 2016-172 and 2017-183, the breakdown of the BCF by the mandatory funding streams is shown in the following table. Mandatory BCF funding streams2015-162016-172017-18Minimum clinical commissioning groups (CCG) contribution£3.46 billion£3.519 billion£3.582 billionDisabled Facilities Grant (DFG)£0.354 billion4£0.394 billion£0.431 billionGrant allocation for adult social care – Improved Better Care Fund (IBCF)--£1.115 billionTotal mandatory size of the BCF£3.8 billion£3.9 billion£5.128 billion Notes: 1Better Care Fund Policy Framework 2015-16 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/better-care-fund-how-it-will-work-in-2015-to-2016 2Better Care Fund Policy Framework 2016-17 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/better-care-fund-how-it-will-work-in-2016-to-2017 3Integration and Better Care Fund Policy Framework 2017-19 https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/605164/Integration_and_BCF_policy_framework_2017-19.pdf 4This includes £0.22 billion DFG and £0.134 billion Social Care Capital Grant. As one of the conditions for the BCF, each Health and Wellbeing Board agrees a contribution to social care from the minimum CCG contribution, and must maintain this contribution at least in real terms in each year subsequent to 2015-16. The overall contributions from the minimum CCG BCF funding stream to social care from 2015-16 to 2017-18 are as follows: 2015-162016-172017-18Social care contribution from minimum CCG contribution5£1.410 billion£1.541 billion£1.594 billion Note: 5Figures in this table are information collected under standard national BCF planning and quarterly reporting cycles for the respective years by the Better Care Support Team, hosted by NHS England, and planned to be published in due course. Improved Better Care Fund (IBCF) grants and the DFG are paid directly to local authorities, with a condition that they are pooled into local BCF spending plans. The DFG is paid to local authorities with social care responsibilities to pay for capital costs related to housing adaptations for people with care needs. IBCF grant must be used to deliver services for the three purposes set out in the grant conditions, i.e.:- Meeting adult social care needs;- Reducing pressure on the National Health Service, including supporting more people to be discharged from hospital when they are ready; and- Ensuring that the local social care provider market is supported. Beyond the mandated minimum for the BCF, local authorities and CCGs often agree to voluntarily make additional contributions to their BCF plans, and use them to fund and deliver services, including integrated services delivered through local authorities. While these voluntary contributions are not subject to the BCF national conditions and the requirements of the fund, they are planned and pooled within the BCF and signify the commitment towards joint working and integrated approaches. Voluntary additional BCF funding components62015-162016-172017-18From CCGs£745 million£1,048 million£1,101 millionFrom Local Authorities£782 million£941 million£1,093 million A Quality and Outcomes of Person-centred Care Policy Research Unit system-level evaluation of the BCF is underway, with the final report planned for this summer. This will contain information on different categories of BCF spend, including social care. Note: 6Figures in this table are information collected under standard national BCF planning and quarterly reporting cycles for the respective years by the Better Care Support Team, hosted by NHS England, and planned to be published in due course.

Better Care Fund

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the innovation and Better Care Fund element of the additional £2 billion funding for social care announced in Spring Budget 2017, whether that funding is subject to the four National Conditions of the Better Care Fund; and if he will provide detail of any other conditions and requirements that funding is subject to.

Caroline Dinenage: As stated in the Integration and Better Care Fund Policy Framework 2017-19 and the Integration and Better Care Fund Planning Requirements for 2017-19, the Better Care Fund (BCF) brings together health and care funding including minimum contributions from clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), the Disabled Facilities Grant and funding paid directly to local government for adult social care services, i.e. the Improved Better Care Fund (iBCF). Spring Budget 2017 announced an additional £2 billion to support adult social care in England. This money is included in the iBCF grant to local authorities and in local BCF pooled funding and plans. The conditions and requirements in relation to the current BCF plans, which cover 2017-19, are set out in detail in the abovementioned Policy Framework and Planning Requirements. This includes the four national conditions. The iBCF grant is made available through the BCF and is therefore subject to the conditions and requirements of the BCF. The iBCF grant is also subject to the grant conditions set out in the grant determinations made under Section 31 of the Local Government Act 2003. The Integration and Better Care Fund Policy Framework 2017-19 can be found GOV.UK website at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/605164/Integration_and_BCF_policy_framework_2017-19.pdf The Integration and Better Care Fund Planning Requirements for 2017-19 can be found on NHS England’s website at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/integration-and-better-care-fund-planning-requirements-for-2017-19/

NHS: Dental Services

Peter Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the total expenditure was on NHS dental services (a) gross and (b) net of patient charge revenue in each of the last five years.

Peter Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the expenditure was on NHS dental services net of patient charge revenue per head of population in each of the last five years.

Peter Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the patient charge revenue was in each of the last five years (a) in total and (b) as a proportion of the total expenditure on NHS dental services in that period.

Steve Brine: The following table shows total gross and net expenditure on National Health Service primary care dental services, total expenditure on such services net of patient charge revenue per head of population and the proportion of patient charge revenue to total expenditure for such services for the last five years.  2012/132013/142014/152015/162016/17NHS Dentistry Gross expenditure (millions)**2,8442,7402,7462,8042,768Patient Charge Revenue (millions)**653684716744777Net Expenditure (millions)2,1912,0562,0302,0601,991Mid-year population estimate (millions)*53.553.954.354.855.3Net expenditure per capita£40.95£38.14£37.38£37.59£36.00Patient charge revenue as a percentage of expenditure on total NHS dental services23.0%25.0%26.1%26.5%28.1%Notes:*Source: Mid-year population estimates: Office for National Statistics https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/timeseries/enpop/pop **Source: Department of Health and Social Care Annual Report and Accounts, Fees and Charges disclosure for each financial year.

NHS: Dental Services

Peter Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the total expenditure was on the salaried primary dental care services in each of the last five years; and what proportion of that sum was allocated to dentists’ pay.

Steve Brine: This information is not held centrally.

NHS: Dental Services

Peter Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much was spent on NHS hospital dental services, excluding oral maxillofacial surgery in each of the last five years; and what proportion of that spending was on dentists’ pay.

Steve Brine: This information is not held in the format requested.

Dental Services

Peter Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many General Dental Service contracts were terminated by the contract holder in each of the last five years by Local Area Team.

Peter Dowd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many Personal Dental Service contracts were terminated by the contract holder before the end date in each of the last five years by Local Area Team.

Steve Brine: This information is not held centrally.

Foetal Alcohol Syndrome

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the number of children born each year in the UK suffering from Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

Steve Brine: Public Health England collect and report information on individuals with foetal alcohol syndrome, however only those identified at birth are notified so it is recognised that this is a significant underestimation of the overall prevalence. The figures available relate to births in 2012-2016 and cover five regions in England only: the South West, East Midlands and South Yorkshire, Wessex, Thames Valley and the North, including North East and Cumbria, prevalence tables by region and year can be found at the following link: http://www.eurocat-network.eu/prevdata/resultsPdf.aspx?title=A5&allanom=false&allregf=true&allrega=true&anomalies=83&winx=1256&winy=677 Rates vary from 0.00 per 10,000 - 0.16 per 10,000 births compared to a European prevalence of 0.54 per 10,000 births.

Foetal Alcohol Syndrome

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of NHS services for sufferers of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

Steve Brine: The Government recognises that Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) can have a significant impact on the early years development of children and their life chances. Early intervention services can help reduce some of the effects of FASD and prevent some of the secondary disabilities that result. Responsibility for commissioning these services lies with clinical commissioning groups. The Government remains committed to tackling all alcohol-related harms and is developing a new alcohol strategy. Government officials are currently exploring what should be included in the strategy and aim to publish this early next year following discussions with stakeholders.

Parkinson's Disease: Mental Health

Thelma Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his Department's policies of the recommendations of the mental health matters too reports of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Parkinson's disease.

Thelma Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans are in place to support people with Parkinson’s disease who have mental health conditions.

Jackie Doyle-Price: Officials have noted the recommendations of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Parkinson's disease. NHS England is working with the Neurological Alliance in support of the new national Neurology Advisory Group, which is considering ways to reduce variation and drive improvement in neurological care. This includes looking at issues such as psychological support, which were raised in the report ‘Parity of Esteem for People affected by Neurological Conditions: meeting the emotional, cognitive and mental health needs of neurology patients’, published by the Neurological Alliance on 5 July 2017. The Neurological Alliance is an umbrella organisation that represents a wide range of neurological condition charities including Parkinson’s UK. Parkinson’s disease is more commonly diagnosed in older people, therefore NHS England anticipates that its work to improve older people’s mental health, and particularly increase their access to Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services, will benefit people living with Parkinson’s disease. NHS England has introduced financial incentives through the Mental Health Quality Premium in 2017/18 and 2018/19 to reward clinical commissioning groups for improvements in access to, and outcomes from, IAPT services for under-represented groups, in particular older people.

Attorney General

Sexual Offences: Newcastle upon Tyne

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Attorney General, pursuant to the Answer of 12 March 2018 to Question 131392 on Sexual Offences: Newcastle upon Tyne, what assessment he has made of the effect of the Spicer Review on his Department's existing programme of work.

Robert Buckland: With regard to local programmes of work, CPS North East is working closely with Newcastle Crown Court and other partners within the Criminal Justice System to improve the experience of victims and witnesses when attending court and to ensure that the commitments to witness care set out in the Victim’s Code and the Witness Charter are properly delivered.In line with the broader recommendations made, the CPS will be considering its guidance on the involvement of the Service with the changing local safeguarding arrangements. While the CPS has no prescribed statutory obligations under the new arrangements, they will ensure that prosecutors are aware of the changes and we will continue to make a positive contribution. The CPS will also continue to work closely with other agencies in order to contribute to any relevant cross-Government strategies pertaining to Serious Case Reviews.

Department for International Development

Department for International Development: Procurement

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many contractors currently employed by her Department are paid £1,000 or more per day.

Harriett Baldwin: DFID do not hold this information. The data relating to contractors pay is not held in a central source. DFID consider there to be a disproportionate cost to provide this information.

Department for Education

Isle of Wight Studio School: Closures

Mike Kane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when the Schools Commissioner was first informed of the intention to close Studio School Isle of Wight.

Mike Kane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what funding the Studio School Isle of Wight has received since it was opened.

Mike Kane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the local authority has a statutory duty to assist in finding an alternative provider for the Studio School Isle of Wight.

Mike Kane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if his Department will provide transition funding to another multi-academy trust to takeover the Studio School Isle of Wight.

Mike Kane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, for what reasons his Department refused emergency funding to the Ormiston Academies Trust.

Mike Kane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, for what reasons his Department did not allow the Isle of Wight college and CECAMM to take over the Studio School Isle of Wight.

Mike Kane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he has taken to identify an alternative trust or provider for the Isle of Wight Studio school.

Anne Milton: The department and the academy trust responsible for the Isle of Wight Studio School – the Inspire Academy Trust – both agree that the school is not viable. The school was established to be a provision for 14 to 19 year olds (years 10 to 13); however, pupil numbers are currently at only 40% of capacity, providing education for 14 to 16 year olds only (years 10 and 11). Ormiston Academies Trust submitted a bid for emergency school improvement funding, to support to the current year 10 and 11 cohorts until 2019. Ormiston later withdrew this application, as they were not able to demonstrate that their support would be sustainable long-term. On 28 February 2018, Inspire Academy Trust informed the Regional Schools Commissioner of its proposal to close the Isle of Wight Studio School. Prior to making an in principle decision for closure, the department explored alternative options for the future of the school. The Regional Schools Commissioner and the Inspire Academy Trust spoke to potential alternative trusts about sponsoring the studio school. However, the long-term viability of the school presented challenges to finding a trust willing to proceed. The department is considering responses to the listening period, which ended on 22 May. A final decision on the closure of the school will be made in light of these, and to ensure that the educational provision on the island is of the highest quality and provides genuine value. Revenue and capital costs associated with the studio schools are published on GOV.UK at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/revenue-spending-on-open-and-withdrawn-utcs-and-studio-schools and https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/capital-funding-for-open-free-schools. Additional, updated revenue and capital costs for individual free schools, university technical colleges and studio schools are due to be published in the coming months.

Sex and Relationship Education

James Frith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department plans to meet the deadline of September 2019 for the introduction of compulsory relationships and sex education lessons in secondary schools; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: The Department has been considering the evidence gathered during the recent call for evidence and wider engagement exercise to help shape the new subjects of Relationships Education and Relationships and Sex Education, and draft new guidance and regulations. The Department plans to consult on these draft regulations and the guidance shortly before laying the regulations to allow a debate in both Houses. The Department will continue to work towards schools being able to teach these subjects from September 2019.

Pre-school Education: Finance

Ben Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make an assessment of the sustainability of funding levels for early years provision.

Nadhim Zahawi: By 2019-20 we will be spending around £6 billion on childcare support – a record amount. This includes around £1 billion extra a year to deliver 30 hours of free childcare and fund the increase in hourly rates that we introduced in April 2017. Our average funding rates are based on the department’s ‘Review of Childcare Costs’ which was described as “thorough and wide ranging” by the National Audit Office. The review looked at both current and future cost pressures. Our average hourly funding rate to authorities for three and four-year-olds, which increased from £4.56 to nearly £5 an hour, compares very favourably with published independent research, which showed that the average hourly delivery cost to be £3.72. We continue to monitor delivery costs and have recently commissioned new research to provide us with further robust and detailed childcare cost data of under five-year-olds using a representative sample of early years providers.

Ministry of Justice

Rape: Victim Support Schemes

Sandy Martin: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will review funding for rape crisis centres and make an assessment implications for (a) the perceived independence and (b) the advocacy role of those centres of financial dependence on police and crime commissioners.

Dr Phillip Lee: The Government is committed to ensuring that victims of crime get the support they need to cope with and, as far as possible, recover from the effects of crime. Under the 2016-2020 Violence Against Women and Girls strategy, the Government made a commitment to maintain funding for rape support services at 2016/17 levels for the remainder of the spending review period and we continue to meet that commitment.In 2017/18 we allocated around £7.2m to 99 independent Rape Support services across England and Wales to provide specialist support to female and male victims of sexual violence, including victims of child sexual abuse.In 2017/18 we allocated Police and Crime Commissioners around £68m funding to commission or provide support services to meet the needs of victims of crime in their local areas, including victims of sexual violence.Rape Support Centres receive funding from a range of sources, including the government, Police and Crime Commissioners, charitable trusts and foundations, and the National Health Service.

Administration of Justice

Gavin Newlands: What steps his Department is taking to improve access to justice.

Lucy Frazer: The Government has a responsibility to make sure that those in the greatest hardship and at the times of greatest need, can secure access to justice. This is a responsibility that we take very seriously.Last year, we spent £1.6 billion on legal aid – over a fifth of the Ministry of Justice’s budget.As we all know, legal aid is just one part of the access to justice landscape. Our £1bn court modernisation programme has already started transforming how people experience the justice system.

Legal Aid Scheme

Mike Kane: What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of rates of pay for criminal legal aid.

Lucy Frazer: Those who undertake criminal legal aid work play an important role in our justice system. It is right that those who represent people, often at their most vulnerable, are paid appropriately for the work that they do and we continue to liaise with the legal profession on this important issue.

Reoffenders

Mark Pawsey: What assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of offenders participating in work in the community on reducing rates of reoffending.

Rory Stewart: Offenders leaving prison who find a job in the community are between 6 and 9 percentage points less likely to reoffend than those who do not.Furthermore, community orders have a more positive impact on reoffending than short custodial sentences (3 percentage points lower over a one year follow-up period) and orders which include an unpaid work requirement are in line with this general trend.All of the above findings were taken into account when created our employment and education strategy which was launched on 24 May. This strategy aims to ensure that as many offenders as possible get the chance to partake in work both in prison and in the community.

Treasury

National Productivity Investment Fund: Scotland

Luke Graham: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much spending from the National Productivity Fund has resulted in Barnett consequentials funding to Scotland in (a) 2017-18 and (b) 2018-19.

Elizabeth Truss: The Scottish Governemnt have received Barnett Consequentials totalling £111.2 million (2017-18) and £189.0 million (2018-19) following allocations made to the National Productivity Investment Fund.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Recruitment

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his single departmental plan, what targets he has set to (a) reduce the time it takes to hire, (b) support the introduction of new tools and technology to improve selection and (c) use a new recruitment hub to reduce the administrative burden on vacancy managers.

James Brokenshire: Following a successful pilot period, MHCLG’s Recruitment Hub was launched in February 2018. Although we have not set targets, the Hub uses a web-based selection and applicant tracking system designed to reduce management time, improve candidates’ experience and, through name-blind assessment and other techniques, improve the equality of shortlisting decisions. As part of a range of people-related metrics, we monitor the effectiveness of our recruitment and resourcing processes. This includes 'time to hire', which has fallen from an average of 80 days in March 2017 to 65 days in April 2018. We will continue to pursue further process efficiencies.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: ICT

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to his single departmental plan, what targets he has set to develop a Core Curriculum with an enhanced focus on digital, commercial, project delivery and line management capabilities.

James Brokenshire: The MHCLG Core Curriculum, which was introduced in July 2016, includes learning that enhances digital, commercial project delivery and management capabilities. We offer a number of internally developed and delivered interventions and Civil Service Learning on-line courses which are signalled as essential learning through the Corporate Induction process.Work is underway with the Heads of Professions and their support teams to identify additional foundation and practitioner level learning which will be offered through the Core Curriculum. A clear L&D strategy for each of the three professional areas will be in place by Autumn.Work is also on-going to develop an internal programme which will enhance line management capabilities, particularly amongst those who are new to line management and/or the civil service.

Buildings: Fire Prevention

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 23 May 2018 to Question 145264 on Buildings: Fire Prevention, if he will publish the locations of the buildings identified as unlikely to meet current building regulations guidance.

Dominic Raab: As at 22 May, our testing programme at Building Research Establishment has identified 323 buildings with Aluminium Composite Material cladding in England. Of these, 311 have cladding systems which the expert panel advise are unlikely to meet current building regulations guidance and therefore present fire hazards on buildings over 18 metres. Of the 311 buildings, 159 are social housing, 14 are public buildings, 106 are private residential and 32 are student residential. We publish the most recent figures every month in a data release. The latest figures can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/building-safety-programme-monthly-data-release-may-2018

Local Government Finance

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to section 136, as amended by the Local Authorities (Capital Finance (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2004, what records his Department keeps on the levy paid by local authorities when the capital receipt received from the sale of its stock is greater than the housing debt attributable to those dwelling houses.

James Brokenshire: The Department keeps a data record of all Large Scale Voluntary Transfers since 1988 to date, including information on the levy in relation to section 136, as amended by the Local Authorities (Capital Finance (Consequential, Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2004.Since 1994 local authorities that completed a Large Scale Voluntary Transfer (LSVT), where the capital receipt received from the sale of their stock was greater than the housing debt attributable to those dwelling houses, paid a total of £496.86 million as LSVT levy.

Ministry of Defence

Army Foundation College

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many students at AFC Harrogate had origin addresses in (a) Wales, (b) England and (c) Scotland in each of the last five years.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The number of students at Army Foundation college (AFC) Harrogate over the last five years broken down by their primary contact address provided during the recruitment process is shown in the table below:  Training Year 2013-142014-152015-162016-172017-18*Wales6080907060England1,0301,0601,1201,140850Scotland13013012011070 *Figures for the 2017-18 do not include March 2018 intake address data which is not currently available by region. The total number of Junior Entry Entrants arriving at AFC Harrogate in Training Year 2017-18 is 1,300.  Notes: Please note that these figures are single service estimates and are not official statistics produced by Defence Statistics. For presentational purposes the figures have been rounded to improve the clarity of output and convey an appropriate level of precision to users.

Armed Forces: Fuels

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to promote the use of innovative fuel technologies in the defence sector.

Guto Bebb: The Government's Industrial Strategy sets out a number of ambitious 'Grand Challenges' that put the UK at the forefront of developing, manufacturing and using low carbon technologies. With an equipment plan worth £180 billion over 10 years, a rising defence budget and an £800 million innovation fund, there are great opportunities for innovative defence-related suppliers, including those working with fuel technologies. The Ministry of Defence is committed to embracing technological advances in sustainable fuel and continues to study developments in energy technologies, considering how they can be applied in future to defence capabilities.

Department for Work and Pensions

Industrial Health and Safety: Private Sector

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the (a) effectiveness and (b) value for money of the private sector health and safety accreditation market.

Sarah Newton: Holding answer received on 04 June 2018



The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has not undertaken any specific recent assessment of the effectiveness and value for money of the private sector health and safety accreditation market.Professor Ragnar Löfstedt’s 2011 independent review of health and safety legislation for the Department noted concerns about the proliferation of accreditation schemes in the construction sector. Those at the top of the supply chain may impose accreditation requirements as a way of protecting themselves from reputational or commercial damage if a supplier subsequently breaches health and safety legislation. Findings from recent HSE research, including on supply chain assurance of which accreditation is a part, show that the resulting documentary obligations can become a workstream in their own right for suppliers. Reliance on such schemes can give false reassurance if not supported by credible assessment and audit. HSE will be publishing its findings this year. HSE is committed to working with the industry to simplify arrangements for pre-qualification in health and safety. HSE helped to establish the Safety Schemes in Procurement (SSIP) Forum, which launched in May 2009, to establish mutual recognition of accreditation between different pre-qualification schemes. Mutual recognition can deliver savings to both procurers and contractors; figures compiled by SSIP highlight more than £50 million of savings to clients, other buyers and suppliers in 2016.

Social Security Benefits: Cryptocurrencies

Martin Docherty-Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when her Department contracted GovCoin to undertake trials on the use of blockchain technology for the welfare and benefits system.

Kit Malthouse: In 2016, we ran a proof of concept pilot to explore GovCoin’s (DISC) capability. The pilot came to an end in early 2017. The are no contractual obligations with Govcoin and we have no plans to do any further work with GovCoin

Social Security Benefits: Cryptocurrencies

Martin Docherty-Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much was paid from the public purse to GovCoin to undertake trials on the use of blockchain technology for the welfare and benefits system.

Kit Malthouse: In 2016, we ran a proof of concept pilot to explore GovCoin’s (DISC) capability. The pilot came to an end in early 2017. No public money was paid to Govcoin. Equally, Govcoin made no payment to the Government for this exploratory exercise. We have no plans to do any further work with GovCoin.

Social Security Benefits: Cryptocurrencies

Martin Docherty-Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department's contract with GovCoin to undertake trials on the use of blockchain technology for the welfare and benefits system has concluded.

Kit Malthouse: In 2016, we ran a proof of concept pilot to explore GovCoin’s (DISC) capability. The pilot came to an end in early 2017.

Department for Work and Pensions: Chief Scientific Advisers

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many meetings she had with her Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser between 1 January and 31 March 2018.

Kit Malthouse: The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has met the Chief Scientific Advisor to the Department of Work and Pensions on one occasion between 1 January and 31 March 2018.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Furs: Import Controls

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will seek legal advice on whether the UK can introduce a ban on the import of fur while the UK is a member of the EU.

George Eustice: The Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU) places restrictions on the introduction of measures that impair the free movement of goods within the EU market. Where there are EU harmonising measures relevant to the movement of fur – including the Animal By-Products Regulation in respect of untreated fur and the Seal Products Regulation – any derogation from those in the form of a national restriction would need to meet the requirements of Article 114 TFEU or any specific safeguard measure included in the harmonising legislation. This would involve notifying the measures to the European Commission who would need to be satisfied that the issue is “specific to that Member State”, that it would not amount to a means of arbitrary discrimination or a disguised restriction on trade, or an obstacle to the functioning of the internal market. Introducing a ban in the absence of such consent where it is needed would breach Article 114 TFEU.

Animal Welfare (Sentencing and Recognition of Sentience) Bill (Draft)

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when his Department plans to publish its response to the Draft Animal Welfare (Sentencing and Recognition of Sentience) Bill 2017 Consultation, published on 12 December 2017.

George Eustice: I refer my Hon Friend to the reply given to the Honourable Member for Bristol East, on 27 March 2018 PQ UIN 133919.

Home Office

Home Office: Sign Language

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to provide correspondence in British Sign Language (BSL) to people whose principal language is BSL.

Victoria Atkins: The Department fulfils its responsibilities under the Equality Act to support staff with protected characteristics, via frameworks which provide communication support, as well as arrangements for alternative support.Whilst we do not provide correspondence in BSL as standard, all our publications are available in alternative formats including British Sign Language (BSL) upon request.

Human Trafficking: Vietnam

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the effect of his Department’s memorandum of understanding with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam on the improvement of (a) identification, (b) notification, (c) referral and (d) assisted voluntary return of victims and potential victims of human trafficking.

Sarah Champion: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the effect of his Department’s memorandum of understanding with the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the improvement of (a) identification, (b) notification, (c) referral and (d) assisted voluntary return of victims and potential victims of human trafficking.

Victoria Atkins: We are working in close partnership with the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Socialist Republic of Vietnam to combat modern slavery and human trafficking. We have a strong information-sharing relationship and are working to build the capacity of both countries to support victims and bring perpetrators to justice through the Modern Slavery Fund and Conflict, Stability and Security Fund.There is currently no Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on human trafficking between the Home Office and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. However, the UK is working to develop an MoU on human trafficking to enable greater cooperation to apprehend perpetrators and support those at risk.There is a 2004 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Cooperation to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons. The MoU is primarily a ‘statement of goodwill’ and has helped to facilitate international cooperation between the UK and Nigeria to combat human trafficking.

Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans he has to extend the remit of the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority to social care.

Victoria Atkins: The Immigration Act 2016 amended the Gangmasters (Licensing) Act 2004 to allow sectors to be included or excluded from the remit of the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority so that the licensing regime can be flexible in meeting the changing nature of labour exploitation.Changes to the licensing regime should be informed by an understanding of the threat of exploitation in different sectors and the full range of options to tackle it. That is why we have appointed the Director of Labour Market Enforcement to assess the risk of exploitation in different sectors and consider whether the use of licensing is an appropriate response. The Director is currently looking at regulation in different sectors, including the care sector to consider whether licensing would be an appropriate tool.

Sexual Offences: Private Rented Housing

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Home Department, what assessment his Department has made of the risk of sexual exploitation that lodgers and those renting private rooms are exposed to.

Victoria Atkins: The Government is aware of the reports and concerns surrounding the practice of ‘sex for rent.’ Offering accommodation in return for sex or sexual favours is illegal and those who do so can face up to seven years in prison.Protecting those who are vulnerable from exploitation is one of the Government’s key priorities and we are working with the police and CPS to ensure that those profiting from exploitation are dealt with criminally.The law on sexual assault is clear and unequivocal. We expect every report of sexual violence to be treated seriously from the time it is reported, every victim to be treated with dignity, and every investigation and prosecution to be conducted thoroughly and professionally.

Home Office: Staff

Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many staff have been employed by his Department in each month since June 2016.

Victoria Atkins: Home Office publish monthly workforce management information on gov.uk - links provided below. This information has been summarised in the table 1 provided.2010 to 2017: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/structure-and-salaries-series2018: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/workforce-management-information-2018

Crimes of Violence: West Midlands

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of violent crime in the West Midlands; and if he will make a statement.

Victoria Atkins: On 9 April 2018, the Government published the Serious Violence Strategy to set out the action it is taking to address serious violence, and in particular the recent increases in knife crime, gun crime and homicide.We have reviewed the evidence and the strategy sets out the trends and drivers of serious violence. The evidence shows that homicide, knife crime and gun crime have increased since 2014 across virtually all police force areas in England and Wales, including the West Midlands. The increases have been accompanied by a shift towards younger victims and perpetrators. The analysis in the Serious Violence Strategy shows that changes in the drugs market is a major factor in the recent increases.

Hate Crime: West Midlands

Emma Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the 12 per cent rise in recorded hate crimes in the West Midlands in the last year, and if he will make a statement.

Victoria Atkins: It is for Police and Crime Commissioners, with their Chief Constables, to consider hate crime trends for their local areas.In England and Wales, the most recently published statistics on police recorded hate crime, for 2016/17, showed that there were 80,393 offences recorded by the police in which one or more hate crime strands were deemed to be a motivating factor. This was an increase of 29% compared with the 62,518 hate crimes recorded in 2015/16.The 29% increase is thought to reflect both a genuine rise in hate crime around the time of the EU Referendum and Westminster Bridge terrorist attack alongside improved identification of hate crime by the police, willingness of victims to come forward and an overall improvement in how police now record crime.

Slavery

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what provision he has made to deal with the potential increase in demand for capacity resulting from (a) victims having their support extended due to the interim guidance given as a result of the PK (Ghana) decision and (b) continued referrals into the National Referral Mechanism as a result of the PK (Ghana) decision; and whether additional financial resources have been made available for such potential increases.

Victoria Atkins: The Home Office commissions The Salvation Army to provide a comprehensive package of support to potential victims of modern slavery referred into the National Referral Mechanism. This is delivered through a network of support providers throughout England and Wales.Whilst we consider the implication of the Court of Appeal judgment in the case of (PK (Ghana) v SSHD), interim guidance has been issued to caseworkers to put on hold any refusals of discretionary leave to remain (DL) decisions for confirmed victims of modern slavery.Grants of discretionary leave are continuing. This guidance is available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/interim-operation-guidance-discretionary-leave-for-victims-of-modern-slaveryIn line with standard practice, support providers under the Victim Care Contract can seek an extension of support for confirmed victims who are awaiting a discretionary leave decision.This service has been designed to accommodate both potential increases in the numbers of people requiring support and to provide extensions of care for those already in the system for as long as it is required.

Antisocial Behaviour: Barnsley

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to tackle anti-social behaviour in Barnsley.

Victoria Atkins: The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 provides the police and local authorities with a range of flexible powers that they can use to tackle anti-social behaviour. It is a matter for the relevant agencies in Barnsley, as in other areas, to decide when it is appropriate to make use of these powers.The Home Office published refreshed statutory guidance for frontline professionals on the use of the statutory powers in December 2017. The guidance is available to the police and local authorities and it will assist them in addressing anti-social behaviour.

Offensive Weapons

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he plans to bring forward legislative proposals for an offensive weapons Bill.

Victoria Atkins: The final timetable for the Offensive Weapons Bill will be announced soon.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether it is his Department's policy that EU residents who are acting as carers and will have been living in the UK lawfully and continuously for five years by 29 March 2019 will be considered as workers and able to apply for settled-status.

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether it his policy that EU residents who have disabilities and (a) have not been able to work, (b) have not worked sufficiently or continuously and (c) who might never work due to their disabilities but who will have been living in the UK lawfully and continuously for five years by 29 March 2019 will be able to apply for settled status.

Caroline Nokes: We agreed with the EU that the eligibility criteria for UK settled status will be the same as, or more favourable than, those set out in the Free Movement Directive for acquiring permanent residence.As a matter of domestic policy, we have decided that the main requirement for eligibility under the settlement scheme will be continuous residence in the UK. Applicants will not need to demonstrate that they met the relevant requirements in the Free Movement Directive as to permitted activity.

Immigration: EU Nationals

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress has been made on the settled status system for EU nationals after the UK leaves the EU.

Caroline Nokes: Work is well underway to develop the settled status scheme for EU citizens which we plan to open by the end of this year. Recruitment is underway to bring existing UKVI European casework staffing levels to around 1,500 ahead of the scheme launch and we are also establishing a new customer resolution centre.We have been discussing the design of the new streamlined, user-friendly application process with stakeholders, including through our monthly user groups, and user testing has already begun.We will be providing further detail on the scheme in due course.

Migrant Workers: Commonwealth

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to enable Commonwealth migrants to work in the UK after the UK leaves the EU.

Caroline Nokes: We are considering the options for our future immigration system very carefully and will outline further details in due course. We will control immigration so that we continue to attract the brightest and the best to work or study in the UK, but will manage the process properly so that our immigration system serves the national interest and works for all.

Immigration: Enforcement

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the number of (a) Members of Parliament and (b) staff working for Members of Parliament that communicated on immigration enforcement hotlines during 2017; and which political parties they belonged to.

Caroline Nokes: The information is not readily available/held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Immigration: Biometrics

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which company or Government facility prints biometric residence permits for his Department.

Caroline Nokes: The Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) personalise the Biometric Residence Permits on behalf of the Home Office.

Immigrants: English Language

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to (a) identify visa applicants wrongly accused of cheating in the TOIEC English language test, (b) ensure that appeals against the Home Office’s decision to cancel their leave are heard in the UK; and offer applicants wrongly accused of fraud and refused a visa appropriate compensation.

Caroline Nokes: The Courts have consistently found that our evidence is sufficient to establish the presumption of fraud where we have taken action in individual cases. It is then up to individuals to challenge this through statutory appeals where available or Judicial Review.Parliament legislated to amend the appeals system in the Immigration Act 2014 so that an appeal only arises where a claim raising asylum, humanitarian protection or human rights is refused. Similar provisions are set out in the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2016.

Immigration: Applications

Mr Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications for Indefinite Leave to Remain have been rejected as a result of evidence included in previous applications being classified as expired.

Caroline Nokes: This information is not aggregated in national reporting systems. This information could only be obtain by a manual case by case review to collate the data which would be disproportionately expensive.

Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons his Department did not respond to the Independent Monitoring Board at Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre Annual Report of 2016 within the six-week timeframe set out in Detention Services Order DSO 04/2014.

Layla Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department plans to respond to the Independent Monitoring Board at Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre Annual Report of 2017 within the six-week timeframe set out in Detention Services Order DSO 04/2014.

Caroline Nokes: Independent monitoring of our immigration removal centres (IRCs) is vital to ensuring that each centre provides a secure and humane environment for detainees.The response to the Independent Monitoring Board at Campsfield House IRC Annual Report of 2016 was delayed for various reasons, including the General Election and ministerial changes. I responded to the report on 13 February 2018.I will be writing to the Independent Monitoring Board with a response to their Annual Report for 2017 within the six week timeframe as set out in Detention Services Order 04/2014 ‘working with Independent Monitoring Boards’.

Asylum: Children

Mohammad Yasin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when his Department's process of sending voluntary withdrawal forms to asylum-seeking minors was introduced; when his Department has reviewed that process; and how many minors have been sent such forms since the introduction of that policy.

Caroline Nokes: The issuing of voluntary withdrawal forms was part of a standard template introduced in April 2015 that was issued to all asylum claimants when they were notified that their asylum claim was not a straightforward claim and therefore a decision would be delayed. This process was reviewed in early 2018 and the decision taken not to issue the form to asylum claims made by minors.We do not hold data on the number of forms issued.

Junior Doctors: Migrant Workers

Nic Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment his Department has made of the ability of NHS trusts to secure Tier 2 visas for junior doctors in disciplines that are not on the shortage occupation list.

Caroline Nokes: The Government recognises fully the contribution that doctors working in the NHS – and other professionals – make to the UK.Doctors in specialisms which the Migration Advisory Committee have recognised as being in shortage in the UK already receive priority within the Tier 2 allocation system. We continue to monitor the operation of Tier 2 to ensure that it strikes the right balance between supporting employers – including the NHS - accessing talent from overseas and that it works in the national interest and protects the resident labour market. Over a third of all Tier 2 places go to the NHS.The Government has taken steps to boost doctors training places and a record number of undergraduates will begin medical training by 2020 with 1,500 new places.

Wales Office

Wales Office: Non-departmental Public Bodies

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many (a) women and (b) men his Department has appointed to each of its non-Departmental Public Bodies in each of the last five years.

Stuart Andrew: The Office of the Secretary of State for Wales is not responsible for any non-departmental public bodies.

Scotland Office

Scotland Office: Brussels

Hugh Gaffney: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many visits he has made in his official capacity to Brussels since 23 June 2016.

David Mundell: I have made two visits to Brussels in my official capacity since 23 June 2016; on 9 February 2017 and 23 November 2017. I intend to travel to Brussels again shortly.

Scotland Office: Government Chief Scientific Adviser

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many meetings he had with the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser between 1 January and 31 March 2018.

David Mundell: I have not met with the Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser between 1 January and 31 March 2018

Cabinet Office

Personal Income

Kirsty Blackman: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the median income of non-retired households was in 2016-17.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA response 
(PDF Document, 69.41 KB)

Living Wage: Wales

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) proportion of people in (i) Vale of Clwyd constituency, (ii) North Wales and (iii) Wales who are paid less than the Living Wage Foundation's living wage.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA response 
(PDF Document, 177.57 KB)

Birth Rate

James Frith: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the annual birth rate has been since 2003.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA response 
(PDF Document, 82.43 KB)

Northern Ireland Office

Northern Ireland Office: Procurement

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many contractors currently employed by her Department are paid £1,000 or more per day.

Mr Shailesh Vara: In the Northern Ireland Office, there are currently no Contractors paid £1,000 or more per day.